News

Air pollution deaths in south Essex revealed

AIR pollution kills 375 people a year in south Essex with many more having years shaved of their lives, health experts estimate.

Councils are considering lowering speed limits and urging people to reduce car use as new figures from Public Health England laid bare the impact of car emissions and industry on people’s lives.

People with asthma were warned to stay indoors after smog settled over the area for several days earlier this month.

Dr Andrea Atherton, director of public health for Southend Council and Thurrock Council, said: “This report clearly shows that particulate air pollution continues to have a significant effect on health and reducing concentrations of this pollutant would lead to significant gains for public health.”

For the first time, the report estimates the number of deaths in each local authority area attributable to long-term exposure to air pollution.

They are calculated by modelling annual average concentrations of man-made particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter, known as PM2.5.

Southend had the worst figures, with 115 deaths and 1,022 years of life lost, but Dr Atherton blames this on the borough’s higher overall death rate, caused by an ageing population.

Basildon and Thurrock both had higher concentrations of particulate air pollution, which could be dust, ash or soot.

Thurrock, which contains the M25, the Dartford Crossing, the A13, Tilbury Power Station, Tilbury Docks, the new DP World superport and many heavy industrial areas, had to declare 15 air quality management areas, where it may not meet national standards.

Each area has an action plan detailing how it will improve.

Rochford District Council declared an air quality management area at Rawreth Industrial Estate and nearby streets in June 2010.

It was revoked last March as resurfacing of the estate roads, reorganising and resurfacing of certain sites to reduce the levels of vehicle contamination had helped improve air quality.

As a new town industry is largely separate from residential areas in Basildon, so road traffic emissions are the principal source of air pollution.

A spokesman said: “The challenge for us is to ensure that as the borough evolves, developments are carefully planned to maintain separation of the people from known areas of poorer air quality.

“Furthermore, while we have not had to declare any air quality management areas in Basildon, we are continuously striving to seek improvements through initiatives like the introduction of reduced speeds on the major feeder roads into town, which is a good example of a common sense measure.”

Quote: "Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use".
-
For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen,

Next idea, please.

Quote: "Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use".
-
For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen,
Next idea, please.emcee

emcee wrote:
Quote: &quot;Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use". - For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen, Next idea, please.

l have to agree with you on all 3 points. Our transport system is neither quick or cheap and certainly unreliable.
ln Germany on visits, l have noticed that it is completely the opposite, and is also quicker, in part because people buy a card, for a day, week, month or year, so no queuing like here to buy tickets.

Having said all that, l know that some people use their cars for ridiculously short journeys, a half mile or less in some cases, and as well as polluting the atmosphere, and being more unhealthy than walking or cycling, it probably takes them as long, or longer, than walking ect, especially if they have to look for suitable parking spaces!

[quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote:
Quote: "Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use". - For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen, Next idea, please.[/p][/quote]l have to agree with you on all 3 points. Our transport system is neither quick or cheap and certainly unreliable.
ln Germany on visits, l have noticed that it is completely the opposite, and is also quicker, in part because people buy a card, for a day, week, month or year, so no queuing like here to buy tickets.
Having said all that, l know that some people use their cars for ridiculously short journeys, a half mile or less in some cases, and as well as polluting the atmosphere, and being more unhealthy than walking or cycling, it probably takes them as long, or longer, than walking ect, especially if they have to look for suitable parking spaces!Almeda11

emcee wrote:
Quote: &quot;Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use".
-
For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen,

Next idea, please.

Spot on.

[quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote:
Quote: "Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use".
-
For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen,
Next idea, please.[/p][/quote]Spot on.Gaz Michaels

It is fact that catalytic converters do not work above 55 mph this goes for petrol and diesel driven engines, the converters below this speed strip out the neurotoxins , however aircraft have no such device and spew neurotoxins all over us all, I feel the reason that the council want to slow drivers down further has benifits,(to them) yet more cameras = more revenue, they have already siged into the nottingham agreement to cut emmissions, so cut the speed to lower emmissions, so that the airport can fly more neurotoxin dumpers and not be in breach of the agreement, at the same time pocket revenue from speeders, If the councils want to stop people using there cars then stop the cars at the manufacturing stage non wait untill purchased then say dont use them, let the industry be out of pocket rather than us servs

It is fact that catalytic converters do not work above 55 mph this goes for petrol and diesel driven engines, the converters below this speed strip out the neurotoxins , however aircraft have no such device and spew neurotoxins all over us all, I feel the reason that the council want to slow drivers down further has benifits,(to them) yet more cameras = more revenue, they have already siged into the nottingham agreement to cut emmissions, so cut the speed to lower emmissions, so that the airport can fly more neurotoxin dumpers and not be in breach of the agreement, at the same time pocket revenue from speeders, If the councils want to stop people using there cars then stop the cars at the manufacturing stage non wait untill purchased then say dont use them, let the industry be out of pocket rather than us servsmaxell

1) Poorly maintained vehicles, burning 2nd hand chip fat (due low disposable income of many who MUST have a car)
2) Unnecessary traffic queues and traffic lights
3) Excessive amount of trades vehicles and diesel powered cars. Older bus exhaust fumes pretty dire in the town.
4) Engines kept needlessly running, ie Taxi drivers waiting at ranks.
5) Everyone trying to travel in the same narrow band of time - stagger business and in particular, school start/finish times over a wider period.

1) Poorly maintained vehicles, burning 2nd hand chip fat (due low disposable income of many who MUST have a car)
2) Unnecessary traffic queues and traffic lights
3) Excessive amount of trades vehicles and diesel powered cars. Older bus exhaust fumes pretty dire in the town.
4) Engines kept needlessly running, ie Taxi drivers waiting at ranks.
5) Everyone trying to travel in the same narrow band of time - stagger business and in particular, school start/finish times over a wider period.Thames Gateway

The area of South Essex is too densely populated. Too many cars sitting in traffic jams spewing out exhaust fumes. As mentioned above public transport far too expensive, unreliable and slow. Governments are not really committed to improving public services as they get huge income from exorbitant taxes on fuel.

The area of South Essex is too densely populated. Too many cars sitting in traffic jams spewing out exhaust fumes. As mentioned above public transport far too expensive, unreliable and slow. Governments are not really committed to improving public services as they get huge income from exorbitant taxes on fuel.Idontknowy

A major problem where I live is incineration and bonfires. If there were a blanket ban over South Essex police may be able to take action. The law is very weak, as far as I know you need to complain to the council, who are of course closed at night when a lot of this goes on.

A major problem where I live is incineration and bonfires. If there were a blanket ban over South Essex police may be able to take action. The law is very weak, as far as I know you need to complain to the council, who are of course closed at night when a lot of this goes on.Dave789

Nowthatsworthknowing wrote:
Electric motors will without doubt, become the only method for which a vehicle will be powered, trouble is, too little too late.

The speed cameras have a dual purpose. Currently it is to collect fines, but in the future they can easily be adapted for road charging to boost the government coffers when most people have electric cars and fuel duty has plummeted

[quote][p][bold]Nowthatsworthknowing[/bold] wrote:
Electric motors will without doubt, become the only method for which a vehicle will be powered, trouble is, too little too late.[/p][/quote]The speed cameras have a dual purpose. Currently it is to collect fines, but in the future they can easily be adapted for road charging to boost the government coffers when most people have electric cars and fuel duty has plummetedFather Jack Hackett

emcee wrote:
Quote: &quot;Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use". - For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen, Next idea, please.

l have to agree with you on all 3 points. Our transport system is neither quick or cheap and certainly unreliable.
ln Germany on visits, l have noticed that it is completely the opposite, and is also quicker, in part because people buy a card, for a day, week, month or year, so no queuing like here to buy tickets.

Having said all that, l know that some people use their cars for ridiculously short journeys, a half mile or less in some cases, and as well as polluting the atmosphere, and being more unhealthy than walking or cycling, it probably takes them as long, or longer, than walking ect, especially if they have to look for suitable parking spaces!

Visits to Germany? Where in Germany were you exactly? What service did you travel on? ICE, RE, S bahn? The German public Transport system is one of, if not the worst in Europe.

"ln Germany on visits, l have noticed that it is completely the opposite, and is also quicker, in part because people buy a card, for a day, week, month or year, so no queuing like here to buy tickets."

Have you never purchased a ticket, at a train station in the UK?

[quote][p][bold]Almeda11[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote:
Quote: "Councils are considering ... urging people to reduce car use". - For people to give up using their car you need to have a public transport system that is quick, reliable and cheap. So, in a country that has a public transport system that is run by private companies for the sole benefit of shareholders and fat-cat bosses, it will never happen, Next idea, please.[/p][/quote]l have to agree with you on all 3 points. Our transport system is neither quick or cheap and certainly unreliable.
ln Germany on visits, l have noticed that it is completely the opposite, and is also quicker, in part because people buy a card, for a day, week, month or year, so no queuing like here to buy tickets.
Having said all that, l know that some people use their cars for ridiculously short journeys, a half mile or less in some cases, and as well as polluting the atmosphere, and being more unhealthy than walking or cycling, it probably takes them as long, or longer, than walking ect, especially if they have to look for suitable parking spaces![/p][/quote]Visits to Germany? Where in Germany were you exactly? What service did you travel on? ICE, RE, S bahn? The German public Transport system is one of, if not the worst in Europe.
"ln Germany on visits, l have noticed that it is completely the opposite, and is also quicker, in part because people buy a card, for a day, week, month or year, so no queuing like here to buy tickets."
Have you never purchased a ticket, at a train station in the UK?keine ahnung